IT IS AGAINST THE LORD

Numbers 16:1-14 / Keywords 16:11

It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

16:1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent[a] 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. 6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers 7 and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! 9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. 11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come! 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us! 14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you want to treat these men like slaves[b]? No, we will not come!”

a. Numbers 16:1 Or Peleth—took men

b. Numbers 16:14 Or to deceive these men; Hebrew Will you gouge out the eyes of these men

1. Discontent with God’s direction to wander in the wilderness, several groups rebelled. Korah was the cousin of Moses and Aaron (1). He and his fellow Levites wanted to take the priesthood (10). 250 community leaders felt Moses and Aaron should be under their authority in making decisions for the whole assembly (2-3). Some Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, were upset that Moses didn’t lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey (13-14). They banded together to overthrow Moses and Aaron and lead the people of God.

 

2. Moses did not engage in a battle for power. Rather, he fell facedown. Moses pointed out that it is God who is sovereign, not people. The LORD chooses who comes near, and who is holy (7). Their rebellion is against God. No human motive or method will succeed. In the church, Christ is sovereign, not people. We do well to check our motives and methods in light of this story.

 

3. Moses reminds the Levites of the privilege they have to be near to God (10). God appoints us to his service and bestows gifts to each one, to be used in building up the whole (Eph 4:11-13). Let’s be thankful for our gifts and exercise them faithfully and wholeheartedly, building up our community.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for choosing me to be near you. Help me humbly live under your sovereignty and build up Jesus’ church today.

One Word Thankfully accept God’s sovereignty

THEN YOU WILL REMEMBER

Numbers 15:22-41 / Keywords 15:40

Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.

 15:22 “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses— 23 any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come— 24 and if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, along with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering.[g] 25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering. 26 The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.

27 “‘But if just one person sins unintentionally, that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering. 28 The priest is to make atonement before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven. 29 One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

30 “‘But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the Lord and must be cut off from the people of Israel. 31 Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Tassels on Garments

37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’”

g. Numbers 15:24 Or purification offering; also in verses 25 and 27

1. God understands his people would not keep the law perfectly. God repeats the Levitical sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins for the sake of the next generation. God wants to forgive his people. At the same time, God reiterates the seriousness of defiant rebellion. The story of the Sabbath breaker who was stoned underscores how seriously God and his people must treat such rebellion. It also reminds us how great God’s kindness is to us through the gospel of Jesus (Ro 11:22).

 

2. The law of the tassels is far more important than style. That generation had proved their contempt (14:11). But God held hope for the generations to come. There is a saying: “The best defense is a good offense.” The tassels were to remind them of their identity as God’s people, redeemed from Egypt, and to help them keep in mind God’s commands, not following the lusts of the flesh. We, too, are told to seek God’s righteousness (Mt 6:33). This is to be done actively by offering every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness (Ro 6:13). Our lives are not to be centered on avoiding sin, but obeying God’s commands as his beloved people whom he rescued in order to be his treasured possession (1Pe 2:9).

 

Prayer Father, thank you for forgiving our sins through Jesus, making me your own. Help me to remember and obey your words.

One Word I am the LORD your God

AN AROMA PLEASING TO THE LORD

Numbers 15:1-21 / Keywords 15:2,3

2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'After you enter the land I am giving you as a home 3 and you present to the LORD offerings made by fire, from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD -whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings-

 1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home 3 and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— 4 then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin[b] of olive oil. 5 With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

6 “‘With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[c] of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin[d] of olive oil, 7 and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

8 “‘When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow or a fellowship offering to the Lord, 9 bring with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah[e] of the finest flour mixed with half a hin[f] of olive oil, 10 and also bring half a hin of wine as a drink offering. This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 11 Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. 12 Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.

13 “‘Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 14 For the generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.’”

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you 19 and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the Lord. 20 Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. 21 Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.

1. That generation maintained a relationship with God through the Tabernacle. God believed their children would want to give freewill and fellowship offerings – an aroma pleasing to the LORD – to mark their relationship and thankfulness to God. God reiterated the rules of offerings to instruct how to demonstrate love to God practically. This applies to all regardless of cultural background (13-16). Today we come to God through Jesus, our great High Priest, who died for our sins once for all, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system. We show our love today through hearing and obeying Jesus (Jn 14:21) and offering ourselves as living sacrifices, pleasing to God (Ro 12:1). We must show each generation how to do so practically, by our example and instruction.

 

2. In the wilderness every bite and drink were provided by God through manna and springs. But in the land they would be blessed abundantly with harvests. To remember and keep a thankful heart to God, the first of the ground meal was to be given to God as an offering. It is easy to think our labor and wealth provides for us; but all that we have is to be received from God with thanksgiving. We are to seek God and his kingdom first (Mt 6:33), trusting in his provision for all our needs.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for providing all for us. Help us respond by offering ourselves and our materials in a way that pleases you.

One Word Offer ourselves as a living sacrifice

GOD’S HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Numbers 14:26-45 / Keywords 14:31

As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.

26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”

36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— 37 these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!”

41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”

44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

 

1. God postponed the people’s entry to the promised land. Their grumbling and complaining were rooted in their unbelief (11), and evidence of holding God in contempt. God hoped for them to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They rejected God’s direction and wanted to return to Egypt. But God did not abandon his plan. They feared their children would all be taken as plunder (3). But God would bring them in to enjoy the land (31). This multi-generational hope characterizes our good God. His discipline of one generation is at the same time his great hope for the next. While suffering in the wilderness for their parents’ unfaithfulness, these children would grow up with a different spirit (33). While those who gave a bad report died from a plague, Joshua and Caleb were rewarded.

 

2. The people did not like this direction from God, and wept bitterly. After a night of tears and admitting their sins, they thought they were ready to receive what God had promised. They charged uphill with zeal. But this was presumption; they did not repent based on God’s will, but their own desire. God did not go with them, and they were soundly beaten. Without God’s leading and direction, no plan will succeed. God will not be mocked; his promises cannot be abused by rebellious people.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for your hope in spite of our unfaithfulness. Help me to humbly receive your discipline and pray for the next generation.

One Word God fulfills his purpose with hope

MOSES’ INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Numbers 14:11-25 / Keywords 14:19

In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."

  11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”

13 Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15 If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[Or the Sea of Reeds]”

1. The people thought their issue was a lack of power, or direction, or their leaders. But it was a lack of faith: they refused to trust God even after he brought them out of Egypt and provided everything for them. They were holding God in contempt. Unbelief is a great sin before God. God was going to destroy them and start over with Moses. They really deserved no better.

 

2. Moses interceded in prayer, remembering how God revealed himself to the world through powerful acts when delivering these people from Egypt. They were bound to his name. God’s great strength is shown through this: he is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. God willingly forgave the people (20). God cares about justice: he does not leave sin unpunished. They disobeyed and tested God ten times. They would be disciplined for their rebellion. Not one of those who treated God with contempt would see the promised land. God wanted to break the pattern of rebellion and testing, with hope that the next generation (and us 1Co 10:11) might learn from this. God also blessed Caleb’s faith. In a rebellious generation, we are called to have a different spirit; to follow our God wholeheartedly, trusting in his reward.

 

Prayer Father, your mercy and justice reveal your great strength of character. Help me to follow you wholeheartedly, and intercede for this rebellious and sinful generation on the basis of your love.

One Word Forgive our sins based on your mercy

DO NOT REBEL AGAINST THE LORD WHO IS WITH US

Numbers 14:1-10 / Keywords 14:9

Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

 1 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 

1. The whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron after hearing the bad report by ten leaders. God had promised to give them the land (13:2), yet they still did not trust God. In their fear, they doubted God’s love. They wanted to take matters into their own hands and return to Egypt, the land they had suffered as slaves! Our words have a great impact, and must not be spoken casually. We must greatly consider the influence of what we say in community (Eph 4:29), and not plant doubt.

 

2. Moses and Aaron did not side with the majority rule. Nor did they begin to fight and argue. They fell down on their face, demonstrating submission to God and humility to people. They hoped to help the people overcome their fear. Joshua and Caleb reminded the people that God is with them; it is not their power that will overcome their enemies, but the mighty hand of God. Their fear made them rebellious and even violent against Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb. Our community, the Church, is ruled by God through his Holy Spirit, who is working for our good. How do we respond to a bad report? We should not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30), but remember God’s promises, pray, and trust him.

 

Prayer Father, your plans are for our good, even when they are difficult. Help us live by faith and not doubt your good plan. Help me pray and guard my heart from fear.

One Word Trust and obey God who is with us

A MAN OF FAITH IN THE MIDST OF DOUBT

Numbers 13:25-33 / Keywords 13:30

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Report on the Exploration

26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

1. After exploring Canaan for forty days, the spies returned to the Israelite camp and reported to everyone what they saw. They said the land flowed with milk and honey, the same words the LORD used to describe Canaan (Ex 3:17). But they also said that the people were powerful and everywhere in the land. Their cities were fortified and very large. They felt like grasshoppers when comparing themselves to the Canaanites. To them, taking the land seemed impossible. Any military campaign seemed foolish.

 

2. As leaders from every tribe (13:2), their words were very influential–for better or for worse. While most of the spies emphasized the obstacles, Caleb silenced the people and said they should go up and take possession of the land. This was not bravado. He simply believed God would give them the land just as he promised. He expressed his faith and told the people to act on faith in God.

 

3. All the spies saw the same things. Many responded with unbelief. Caleb responded with faith in God’s power and promise. We sometimes hear things that can make us doubt God. But as you face challenges, express your faith in God and help others to also trust in God.

 

Prayer Father, please forgive my unbelief. When the situation is unfavorable, help me to put my faith in you and to encourage others to do the same.

One Word Have faith in God

AARON’S STAFF: A SIGN TO THE REBELLIOUS

Numbers 17:1-13 / Keywords 17:10

The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die."

 The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

17 [a]The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.

8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”

a. Numbers 17:1 In Hebrew texts 17:1-13 is numbered 17:16-28.

1. As with the bronze censers, God gave another illustration to teach God’s holiness and sovereignty: 12 staffs presented before the covenant law. The staff God caused to sprout indicated whom God had chosen as their mediators. They did as Moses instructed, and the next day Aaron’s staff not only budded, but blossomed and produced almonds! Only the Creator God who gives life could resurrect a dead branch like this! Through Jesus, God has chosen us too, and as we remain in Jesus we bear much fruit (Jn 15:5). This is a sign of God’s blessing and grace to us.

 

2. God instructed the branch to be kept with the ark in order to be a sign to the rebellious: when they saw it, they ought to remember it was not Aaron’s line who is sovereign, but God. God doesn’t want them to die, but to stop forgetting God, grumbling against people, and becoming rebellious. That generation was toxically sick with fear and doubt (12-13). But God never gave up hope for them to repent. God looks with hope to the next generation. God gives sign after sign, leading to his greatest sign: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

Prayer Father, you are holy and sovereign; you give life to the dead. Thank you that in Jesus, I – a dead branch – have been made alive and fruitful. May this sign and grace keep me from fear, grumbling and rebellion, and point others to you, my Creator.

One Word A sign so we may not die

EXPLORING CANAAN

Numbers 13:1-24 / Keywords 13:2

"Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders."

 1The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

3 So at the Lord’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 4 These are their names:

from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;

5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;

6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;

7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;

8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;

9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;

10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;

11 from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;

12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;

13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;

14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;

15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.

16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)

17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a] they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there.

1. God’s promises are not meant to be passively acknowledged. We are to believe, act upon, and experience them. That is the reason the LORD commanded Moses to send one leader from each tribe to explore the land of Canaan. God reiterated his promise to give the land to the Israelites (2) in fulfillment of his promise to Abraham. Believing God’s promise practically meant that they should spy out Canaan in preparation for a military campaign. God promised that victory was certain. He did not promise that victory would be effortless.

 

2. A leader from each tribe was appointed, including Caleb and Joshua, who later play important roles. Moses instructed them where to go to survey the land, to understand the inhabitants and their towns and cities, and to bring back some fruit since it was the season for grapes. Doing so would help the Israelites prepare strategically and give a glimpse into the magnitude of future victories and blessings. The leaders explored Canaan for forty days and returned with a huge cluster of grapes.

 

3. Are you holding onto a specific promise from God for your situation? Pray over and act on God’s promise. God keeps promises, and you will grow closer to him as you believe him.

 

Prayer Lord, you always keep your promises. Help me to practically live by your promises.

One Word Practically live out God’s promises

THE LORD UPHOLDS MOSES’ LEADERSHIP

Numbers 12:1-16 / Keywords 12:8

With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

 

1. In this passage, Miriam and Aaron are spiritually proud and envious. They use ethnically-charged language about Moses’ non-Israelite wife to speak out against their brother. They envy Moses’ unique spiritual position. In contrast to his arrogant siblings, Moses says nothing. He is described as the most humble man on earth. To be criticized and denigrated by those closest to us is painful. How we respond reveals our humility and faith before God and others.

 

2. The LORD defends Moses. He states that Moses is not an ordinary prophet; the LORD speaks to Moses face –to-face. No one except Moses is allowed to see the LORD’s form. The LORD is angry with Miriam and Aaron. Their attack on Moses is a direct affront to the LORD’s authority and sovereignty. In response, the LORD afflicts Miriam with leprosy but heals her after Moses prays and a week-long quarantine.

 

3. Real sin in spiritual leaders must be dealt with swiftly. But criticizing and opposing spiritual leaders or their families from a place of pride, self-righteousness, and envy angers God. Instead of complaining or being divisive, pray for the spiritual leaders whom God has placed over you (Heb 13:17).

 

Prayer Father, please forgive my pride. Help our spiritual leaders to be faithful and bless many.

One Word Pray for the spiritual leaders among us

WOE TO NINEVEH!

Nahum 3:1-19 / Keywords 3:19

Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal. Everyone who hears the news about you claps his hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?

 

1. Nahum pronounces woe on the city of Nineveh. “Woe” is a term meaning great sorrow or distress. The Lord caused woe to Nineveh because of her great sins. In verses 1-4, Nahum reveals two of Nineveh’s sins: first, the great violence and bloodshed the Assyrians visited upon their enemies; and second, her moral turpitude. She acted the part of an alluring prostitute in persuading other nations to follow her wicked ways.

 

2. Because of her sins, the Lord was against Nineveh. He would punish her. The Lord would humiliate her by using the Babylonians to expose her as a weak, contemptuous spectacle of a nation. He would leave Nineveh in ruins, without a single ally to aid her or even to comfort her (7).

 

3. The Ninevites should have learned from history. The city of Thebes had at one time been powerful, with mighty allies in Put and Libya. Yet the Assyrians themselves had destroyed her. The city of Nineveh would find herself in a similar situation.

 

4. Assyria’s sins were her wound. It was a fatal wound. Just as she had done to other nations, so it would be done to her. And all the other nations on earth would rejoice at her doom.

 

Prayer Father, you give us history to learn from. Help us to learn your judgment of sinful nations and help us to repent and be delivered by you.

One Word The Lord will judge every wicked nation